as i am getting involved in bike riding more, i am finding out more on the training or conditioning that is needed to make myself better. one of those things is going to be more miles on the road ... (right now i am 90% mountain bike trails)

i am currently gathering up parts to build a 29er mountainbike ... (but still about 700$ shy on the parts, have the frame and a few other peices tho) ...

right now, i am debating on an issue ... which basically boils down to money ...

i checked with one of the nearby LBS .. and they have a Kona Dew Plus for the 490$ price range ... i beleive it to be a strong enough bike for some road miles .. and the occasional commute as i get better ...

so it's either get that ... and just keep watching for deals and such for the other bike i am building .. (and keep riding my raleigh mojave 8.0 for mtb stuff for now) ... or finish getting up the parts for the new bike, and convert my raleigh over to road use ... which would prob come up to around 1,000 total spent for parts for other bike and parts for the raleigh ...

decisions are always tough when they involve something you love.

07-15-08, 06:37 AM

Retro Grouch

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Devil-

right now, i am debating on an issue ... which basically boils down to money ...

It's probably not as much a money decision as you think or you wouldn't be asking. There's a "fun" factor that can't be quantified but has to be considered.

What you are really juggling is the fun of having a new, but compromise bike now vs. a dream bike that you assemble yourself later. Only you can balance those two factors.

My personal experience has been that the journey is more fun than the destination anyway. A store bought bike, however nice, is just a store bought bike and they'll be another, even cooler, bike next year. I'd be for piecing together the dream bike.

07-15-08, 06:40 AM

-Devil-

true, hadn't thought about it that way ...

i will have the money up for the rest of the parts next paycheck ... so it isn't much of a wait ...